So, England and Wales move closer to enabling terminally ill people to take their own lives.
Not before time, or a step too far?
Opinions on both sides of the dilemma are sincere and passionate - writes Phil Hill.
Releasing people in their death beds from intolerable suffering or failing to recognise the sanctity of human life, either way it’s one of the most emotive issues we currently face.
If The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill does become law, it’s likely to be a few years before severely sick people can be given medical help to end their own lives.
Party politics were on hold as MPs put forward their arguments for and against assisted dying in The Commons last Friday.
It was supported by 330 members, with 275 opposed.
It was interesting to see Taunton and Wellington MP Gideon Amos vote against, while Tiverton and Minehead’s Rachel Gilmour supported.
Both are Lib Dems.
The case for or against is neither black nor white and there’s been an amount of fence sitting and flip-flopping from some politicians.
Former PM Lord Cameron initially disagreed with the idea of assisted dying, only to recently change his mind, while health secretary Wes Streeting switched the other way.
I saw on TV two MPs, who had watched their fathers deteriorate during the late stages of cancer, explain their standpoint.
One said it had convinced her to back assisted dying, the other used the experience to argue against.
Politicians are elected to run the country on a day-to-day basis, overseeing the economy, public services, and foreign and domestic policy.
They are better informed than most of us on those issues.
But the case for assisted dying is a moral and personal issue.
Members of the public outside Parliament argued their corner just as convincingly as the MPs inside.
Perhaps we should have let the people decide in a referendum.
One of the most eloquent arguments for assisted dying was made in 2011 by the late Christopher Hutchens, who, riddled with cancer, said he wasn’t afraid of death, but feared dying.
On the other hand, actress Liz Carr, who is disabled, has explained her opposition to ‘assisted suicide’ by warning that "marginalised people are seen as more disposable than others" and safeguards would not protect against "potential abuses, coercion and mistakes.’"
Share